o^e Hermit 



. . OF . . 




MINNEHAHA FALLS 








Class Vs'j7 
Book lAaA- 



^ ^ SOUVENIR ^ .^ 

LIFE AND DEEDS OF . 

WILLIAM HERRICK, 

..HERMIT OF - 

MINNEHAHA FALLS 

v^ v^ v^ 

A TALE OF THE WILD WEST IN EARLY DAYS 

A TRUE STORY 



Sj§ S^ v^ 

Edited by 
SAMUEL A. HATCH 



THE. LIbRAHY OF 
CONOKESS, 

Two Copies Rocalved 

JUL 2 1903 

\ CoHyiignt hntiy 

CjIaSS C<^ XXc No. 

COPY B 



.1 



COPYRIGHT, 1903 

BY 

SAMUEL ATHERTOS HATCH 




WILLIAM HERRICK. 
The Herniil of Miniu-haha Falls. 



WHY I BECAME A HER.M1T 

T am often asked why I became a licrmit. I 
liave never answered this before for reasons best 
known to myself. But fecHng- tliat I owe some- 
thing to the reading pnbHc I will try to answer 
that question truthfully. 

In the first place I suppose that the love of sol- 
itude, the desire for one's own company is in- 
herent in some men's systems, just as the desire 
for company is inherent in others. I always loved 
solitude. I loved the forest with its lonely grand- 
eur, I loved the great prairie with its solemn still- 
ness. But this was not my only reason for shun- 
ning human society. There was in my case what 
there has been in many like cases — a woman. 
Two words, yet how much they mean. Later in 
mv storv I shall give you a small account of my 
marriage and its bitter results. It is enough for 
me to say that the woman I married ruined my 
life and sent me to wander on the face of the 
earth. Graduall}' I drew away from my fellow 
men until during the ])ast twenty years of my 



life I have lived nearly a])art from them. Still 
I cannot hut lielieve that there are many g-ood 
women but as for me I want none of them. 

I have no trouble to unload upon any one else, 
let them keep their troubles away from me. I 
have lived with Nature and she has dealt kindly 
with me after her fashion, but even she cannot 
remove me from all touch of human kind. 

Thus in my old age I must go to some retreat 
for old soldiers and there end my days. Two men 
have kindly aided me in placing this true story 
of my life before the pul)lic and have given me 
the money to go to the Milwaukee Soldiers' 
Home. These two men, C. C. Patten and S. A. 
Hatch are to liave full charge of the book which 
shall recount the life and deeds of W'm. Herrick. 
Hermit of Minnehaha Falls. 

So sitting here in my little vine covered shack, 
in the hearing of the laughing waters of ^lin- 
nehaha I look l)ack over my life and n'coimt for 
your benefit the stirring scenes through which I 
passed. 



CHAPTER I. 
MY BOYHOOD 

I was born in the city of New York, March 
22, 1848. My parents were poor but honest and 
related to men who afterward became renowned. 
Thus I can honestly sa\- that I am a nephew of 
Dr. Livingstone, the g-reat African explorer. 

Another relation with the same name now has 
a ereat cattle ranch in western Nebraska. Mv 
father was step brother to Isaac Singer of sew- 
ing" machine fame. 

So much for my relations. 

At the age of six I came to Watoma. Wiscon- 
sin, with my parents. Here m}' father died when 
1 was but seven years old, leaving my mother 
with the care of two bo}s, the oldest ten years 
of age. 

One vear later my mother married a widower 

with three girls. (Jur family now consisted of 

seven persons in all, and tlnnking they cotdd do 

[letter for their family farther west my mother 

3 



The Hermit 

and step father moved to ^Minnesota in the spring 
of 1857. 

We settled on a claim on Greenwood prairie, 
Wabasha county, and well do I remember the 
dug-out home and general surroundings. Our 
daily fare was not calculated to give us indiges- 
tion. It consisted principally of potatoes, a slice 
of bread twice a week, no tea, coffee, or milk, 
but plenty of good spring water. Meat and but- 
ter were rarities and not to be thought of. 

During the second year of Minnesota life my 
step father bought a small herd of cattle, mak- 
ing me herd boy, without a mount. Being bare- 
foot and having a herd ground that comprised 
any amount of raw prairie land, my feet became 
very sore looking after my unruly charges. So 
I conceived the idea of using a pet steer for a 
mount and after a few lessons he took the matter 
very philosophically. 

But T was doomed to a sudden downfall. The 
riding wore out my pants and my mother setting 
out to mend ihcm after I had gone to bed dis- 
covered sticking lo the legs a thick coating of hair. 
The consequence wa- that 1 received first a vig- 
orous questioning and then a terrible whipping 
4 



OF Minnehaha. 

fnun ni\- ^tep father. As this was not the first 
heating- I had received from him for trivial of- 
fences, for whenever I was at hand he used to 
take exercise on me two and three times a day, 
and seeing we could never hope to agree, I v.'as 
always looking- for some chance to get away 
from home. Many a time I was sent supperless 
to bed and so while he grew richer I grew poor- 
er both in body and spirit. 




THE OLD ROUND TOWER AT FORT SNELLING. 



Built in 1820. Was the point of land allack by the 
Indians in their warfare against the soldiers sta- 
tioned there. The piece of wall to the right shows a 
part of the old wall that entirely surrounded the 
whole foi't. Another ran from the left side of the 
tower, thus completely shutting in the point of land 
between the juncture of the Minnesota and Missis- 
sippi rivers. It was in these walls that many Indians 
were hung, among them being the terrible Chief 
Medicine Bottle who had taken the scalps of 37 white 
men. 



CIIAPTKR IT. 
OFF TO WAR. 

lUii my turn was to come at last. The Civil 
War was on and I asked the privileg'e of enlist- 
inj:;-. lie not consenting", I threatened to rtin away 
and go south to Johnnie Reh. As he was a rank 
Abolitionist this had the effect of bringing him 
to terms, though I could see that it cut him deep. 
So I left home feeling as free as the eagle that 
soars aloft and marched away with the boys in 
blue. I never saw my step father again. He 
died before I returned and I verilv l)elieve in do- 
ing so he saved me the crime of murder. 

At first I tried to enlist in a Minnesota regi- 
ment but was rejected because they said. "I was 
too small to stop a bullet." Nothing daunted I 
went to Wisconsin, where after several trials I 
succeeded in joining Co. H. 48th Rgiment, Wis- 
consin Infantry. 

On my seventeenth birthday we took the cars 
for St. Louis. From there the regimen.t went 
into Kansas and was l)roken up and scattered 



The Shetland pony track hjcated in the Park just 
above the Falls, has been the means of affording more 
pleasure to children than any other amusement in the 
Xortlnvest. The ponies arc pure Shetland, the stock 
having been brought from the Shetland Isles in 1891 bj' 
^Ir. Hartzell, the proprietor. The herd, has been largely 
increased since by breeding. They range in height from 
thirty-four to forly-four incites and are strong and 
gentle so that children and adults can either ride or 
drive them. 



The Hermit 

over the southern part of the state. H Co. was 
stationed near the Bhie Cut coimtry where the 
famous Younger and J'lnies hrothers hehl forth. 

On our march to our camping grounds we 
were put on short rations, one hardtack a day for 
two weeks. Added to this I had the nusfortune 
to have my allowance stolen and my hmikey, a 
quarter blood negro, shared his hardtack with 
me for the entire two weeks. 

Let me say here that that negro was father, 
brother and friend to me, boy that I was. He 
shielded me from the cold night winds, he lugged 
my knapsack when I l)ecame fatigued from the 
long marches, cared for me when I was sick and 
protected me from rough usage at the hands of 
others. May he still live and may he have the 
fruits that are his just dues, for under his black 
skin beat a white heart. 

In the fall the regiment assembled at Law- 
rence, Kansas, to take the trail over the Smokey 
Hill route on the Staked Plains. One who has 
never been on the plains in those early days can- 
not conceive of the great pleasure which this 
trip afforded me. The mighty mystery and sol- 
emn stillness of the e'reat wastes and stretches of 



OF Minnehaha. 

uii])oi>])lc(l land filled niv }'ouni;' heart to over- 
tlowin^ with rc\-ercncc and awe. And then the 
animals bounding- in freedom across the plain. 
lUififalos o^razinij in .s^reat majestic herds, thous- 
ands u])()n thousands, lumbering- away with a 
heav\-. rolling- run at the ajiproach of Uncle 
Sam's white coA'ered wag-ons. 

Many a night in those days did I awake to see 
sitting arcjund in the cold moonlight a pack of 
wolves, making tlie night hideous with their 
howling. The antelope skipped by us with light 
and flying feet, the prairie dogs barked at us 
from millions of their towns and the rattle snakes 
and owls glided and flew past us and followed 
the prairie dog down intO' his hole. Occasionally 
we saw a mountain sheep. 

One night I awoke paralyzed with horror. A 
rattlesnake in search of warmth lay coiled on my 
breast. For twO' hours of terrible agony I la}- as 
one dead. P^inally it crawled away only to sink 
its fangs in the leg of a comrade in the next tent. 

At times we saw Indians, but always m too 

small numbers to cope with us. However the 

fear of them ke])t us from hunting the .plentiful 

game all around us. So we ate our wormy hard- 

9 



The He km it 

tack and maggcjty meat with many a wry face, 
l)ut without a murmur. 

As we came to the dititerent posts two com- 
panies were stationed at each, to be increased a 
few days later by two companies of cavalry. 
Companies H and A were stationed on Pawnee 
Creek at Fort Leonard, afterwards Sherman's 
headquarters, and where Bill Cody earned his 
spurs. 

It was there I met with an adventure that came 
near costing me dear. Taking my gun one day I 
strode out of camp in search of adventure. Xot 
knowing the danger I was in I forgot myself in 
the picturesque surroundings and wandered on 
till near sundown. Making for a small clump of 
trees in which to camp. I walked directly into 
the midst of a band of six Indians. With terrible 
yells the\- threw themselves upon me. In a twink- 
ling I was bound to a tree and the dry fagots 
piled high about me. Kneeling down one struck 
his Hint and steel and was soon blowing a piece 
of punk to a blaze. 

Did you ever see a cat play with a mouse? 
That is the way those red devils played with me. 



10 




THE HERMIT AT HOME. 



This shows the hermit sitting at his cabin door 
among- the ivy and flowers. The place was a wilder- 
ness of blootning- and beautiful flowers during the 
summer time and many Avere tlie liouquets given to 
visitors who came from far and wide to visit the 
hermit in his liomo. 



'I'he Hermi. 

I can still sec them in ni_\- fancy dancing around 
me with savat^e joy. 

But I was not to die thus. Just as I had given 
up all hope, the reports of two rifle shots rang 
out on the air and two of my tormentors bit the 
dust. The other four took tn their heels and get- 
ting safely on their ponies made their escape. 

A white man now came b lunding to my side, 
kicked away the fagots and cut me loose from 
my uncomfortable position. I sank to the ground 
unconscious for my nerves had been given too 
hard a strain. With a dash of water he brought 
me to and seeing that my rescuer, wore the ep- 
aulettes of a colonel, I weakl\- brought my hand 
to a salute and stood at attention. 

"May I ask your name. Colonel," I said. "Cer- 
tainly," he replied. "My name is Christopher 
Carson." 

I cam])ed that night with thai most iuii(|ue and 
wonderful man. He told nie to go to sleep as 
his horse would apprise him of any danger. Be- 
fore retiring he told me some of his wonderful 
experiences, which same experiences came \<r 
good account to me later in the seventies, wIk n 
[ was in the Had Lands of the Dakotas. 
11 



OF Minnehaha. 

The next niorniiii;- \vc parted, each to go liis 
own \va\-, never to meet again, for he died of a 
cancer two years later at Taho. New Mexico. 
But his memory is ever fresh in my heart and 
will remain so till we meet on the n])per trail. 

I returned to the post keeping my adventure 
to myself. As my companion of the night be- 
fore was on his way to Denver, none of my com- 
rades were the wiser. 

Our quarters were small dugouts sheltering 
from two to six men. A blanket served for a 
door. One night a skunk got through this open- 
ing and took the liberty to spice our fifteen days' 
rations. As we must eat them or die you may 
judge the predicament we were in. 



rj 




Minnehaha Falls in its primeval beauty before man 
came to mar it with artificial adornments. 



CHAPTER III. 
HOME AGAIN 

On December the tenth we started on our 
lionieward march of four hundred miles. The 
snow was two feet deep and we were only half 
clothed. The suffering on that march was ter- 
rible and some of us were pitiful sights when we 
got back. 

I had received no letters from home and was 
about to go to ^Mexico as a soldier of fortune, 
when at last our mail was delivered. I had in it a 
letter from ni}' widowed mother asking me to 
come home. This I did in the year 1868. 

We now moved on the extreme frontier of 
Minnesota in what is at present Lyon county. 
There were only eleven families west of Red- 
wood at that time. I worked on the homestead 
during summer and trapped during winter. 

It was during one of my trapping expeditions 
in the fall that I had my first fight with an In- 
dian. Singularly enough it occurred in the mid- 
dle of a lake. I came upon him in a boat in 

]3 



The tiEKMJT 

Rush lake. We had holh l)een setting traps. 
When quite clo.se to nie he fired upon me with 
his rifle and only missed hy a hair's breadth. 

I did not wait for him to reload, but with a few 
strokes of my jiaddle shortened the di.stance be- 
tween us and l)rought my oar down edgewise on 
his head, splilling it to his e}'es. Tie toppled over 
and \vent to the bottom, a good Indian. 

It was in the spring of '70 that the grasshop- 
pers came. I left home and went to Wisconsin, 
wdiere I spent the next winter in the woods. The 
spring following occurred the one and onl\- ro- 
mance of my life. I met a beautiful girl and af- 
ter a few months' courtship, married her. She 
was young, too young for the hardships of a 
frontier life, and looking back now over my 
eventful life since I first met her, I realize it. 

For two happy years we lived together. I 
earned a fairly good living by cutting and haul- 
ing wood. But grasshoppers again came and I 
was forced to go farther east. 

My young wife could not stand poverty and 
one night on coming home [ foiuid the house 
deserted. Too j^roud to follow her up. I determ- 
ined to cut loose frt)ni civilization. 

14 



CilAI'Tl^R IV. 
OFF FOR THE BLACK HILLS 

I joined a pari)- of ])r()S]X'ctors i^oiiii;- to the 
T>lack Hills, lieinq- turned Ixick b\- the soldiers. 
T joined a tra])])ing- outfit, making- up a trio of 
ha])])y, reekless, devil-may-care fellows. \\'e 
started up ihe Missouri, well knowing- our f;ite 
if catight by the Indians. Yet hundreds of white 
nien were every day taking their chances for the 
rich furs that might lie taken l)ack. 

Ihit danger and nature sharpens one's wits. 
If a deer bounded from a thicket or a squirrel 
barked excitedly, we took to cover, for that 
meant that some one was near. ( )ne learned to 
avoid sticks under the feet and to use his nose. 

The .^mell of Kinakinic or red- willow bark is 
])eculiarly strong. The Indians use this wood fo- 
pipes and a few whitfs of tobacco through it 
leaves a scent that will drive awa_\- mosquitos, 
Hies or woodticks. 

As I have said there were many white men 
trapping- in and around the Alissouri and some 
1.') 



The Excursion Steamer Gracie Mower will make 
regular trips between Fort Snelling, Minnehaha and 
Soldiers' Home, connecting A\ith street cars fit Ff)rt 
Snelling for St. Paul, and at Minnehaha for Minne- 
apolis. 

TIME TABLE. 

Leave St. Paul, foot of Jackson street, 9: 30 daily. 

Leave Fort Snelling for Minnehaha 10:30, 11:30, 
12: 30, 1: 30. 2: 30, 3: 30, 4: 30. 

Leave Minnehaha for Fort Snelling 11: 1.5, 12: 1.5, 
1:15, 2:15, 3:15, 4:15. 

Leave Minnehaha for St. Paul 5:15: leave Fort 
Snelling for St. Paul 5:30. 

Children not over twelve years of age, to Fort Snel- 
ling and return, five cents. Steamer to charter for 
evening excursions, ?10.00. 

Take a trip on the Gracie Mower and see the high- 
lands of the tJpper Mississippi river. 

J. C. SMITH, Manager. 



'J" HE Hermit 

of ilu'in met sonic terrible fates at the hands of 
the red skins. Tlie torture tliat an Tn(han cm 
devise is past belief. I have found a skeleton tied 
to a stake that was driven into a red ant hill. 
The sequel of this hellish act was only too ])lain. 
The ants had eaten the man alive. Again we 
found the skeleton of a man and that of a rattle- 
snake tied to the same stake, the man with a rope, 
tlie snake with a buekskin. A rain would shrink 
the rope and stretch the buckskin. iJut to resume 
our journey. 

We crossed the river and bore to the cast to 
get l)y Pine Ridge and StaufHng Rock Agencies. 
We then recrossed the Muddy, making for the 
U])per Camion ]'>all. 

One evening hve horsemen joined our p'lrty 
while we were cooking our supper. Their hors- 
es looked jaded and worn, and upon our asking 
them to 'light and eat, they quickly got down, 
unsaddled and made themselves at home in west- 
ern stvle. We were glad to welcome tliis addi- 
tion to (jur ranks that night, bul bitterly did we 
regret next morning. Scarcely had daybreak ar- 
rived when we heard the cry. "Hands up," and 
you can bet that hands u]) it was, for we were 

IG 



OF MiNNKHAHA. 

surrounded 1)\- t\vcul\ while men on liorses with 
Winchester ritles at nim. 

"What is the meaning of this outrage," I 
asked. 

■"Shut \<iur mouth, you damned horse thief," 
said their spokesman. 

"Gentkmien," said I, "there is a mistake h.ere 
as far as myself and two companions arc con- 
cerned. These tive men came to us last night 
and we never saw them before." 

But there being some doubt as to the truth of 
my assertion, the}' decided to make us go back 
to the camp of two plainsmen whom our captors 
knew and whom one of my companions claimed 
to know. 

This done, our identity was easily pro\'en, tho" 
we had lost two days on account of the misha]). 

The live horse thieves w^ere treated in th;.' true 
western style, a necktie party of five Ijeing in 
order. We afterwards learned that they belonged 
to the famous Doc ^liddleton gang, one of the 
worst set of cut-throats that ever infested the 
West. 

Once more we started, this time for the White 
river. Here we met with an adventure, the likes 

17 



The Hermit 

of wliich can never occur again. It was a buf- 
falo stampede. We were preparing for our dav's 
trap-setting when a dull, rumbling noise attracted 
our attention. Jack Colby was the first to notice 
this and recognized the sound. He told us to 
bring our horses close up under the edge of a 
steep bluff of the river where a shallow cave had 
been hollowed out. We did so, and had not more 
time than we needed to arrange ourselves, when 
a black mass of the animals began pouring over 
oitr heads, h^or seven hours we were held pris- 
oners. Then when we did at last get out a fear- 
ful and w^onderful sight was revealed to us. Many 
of the animals had been killed and piled up in 
front of our cave. Over these those in the rear 
had passed, trampling and driving the dead ones 
into the ground. Over the route which they had 
come was a strip of ground, a (juarter of a mile 
wide entirely bare of grass. How they had start- 
ed no one will ever know. Perhaps by a hawk 
swooping down, perhaps by some wandering 
hunters. At any rate they furnished us with 
some good l)uft'alo steaks, for some had rolled 
back against us to the terrible fright of our hors- 



18 



OF Minnehaha. 

es and were nnt liadK irani])U-(l. \\\' remained 
there over night. 

In camping' we always left one man doing" 
picket dnty while the rest of ns slept. Each man 
served two hours and then called u]) anuther and 
went to bed. The next morning we started for 
the head waters of the Wdiite river. We were 
looking for beaver princii)ally. There was large 
g'ame in plenty l)ut their hides were not as prec- 
ious as at present. 







h 


t. 




ii4.^J 






foKT 





The Old Block House — famous for the strong pi'o- 
teetion it afforded the garrison from attacks by the 
Indians on the Minnesota river. Its fire range swept 
both up and down the Minnesota. 




Wm. Herrick at twenty-six years of age. This 
shows him as he was at the time he roamed in the 
wild and unsettled West, clad in the buckskin suit 
and heavy boots of the frontier trapper and hunter. 



(.iiAi'-n-.R \". 

WE MAKE CAMP FOR. WINTER. 

\\\'ll u]^ iDwards the head waters of the \Miite 
ri\er we fotmd what we wanted A good, habit- 
al)le cave and a sprinQ' of fine water close at hand. 
We set to work to render our new quarters habit- 
able for ourselves and stock for the long- winter 
which was at hand. W'e cut ha}' and stacked it 
near the cave and we got together a large quan- 
tity of dry wood. Now and then we shot a buf- 
falo and one of us cut and dried the meat while 
the others tended the traps. Beaver were plenty 
and we had plenty to do dressing, ctiring and 
packing the skins for shipment. The winter 
passed pleasantlx' and profitably to us. The early 
spring found us with a large catch. But there 
was trouble ahead. We were not "out of the 
woods" with our game yet. so to speak. 

One day Will (7urtis, "Curt," we called him 
for short, came in from the traps with the in- 
formation that we were discovered by Crazy 
Horse with fiftv red skins at his back. To prove 

21 



The Hermft 

his assertion he showed us a Inillet wound in his 
shoulder. We dressed the wound as best we could 
and made ready for an attack from the Indians. 

W'e might be good for a six weeks' seige, then 
(jod help us. We had not long to wait. We could 
see them skulking up to us among the bushes, 
then all at once they bounded into the clearing 
and came for us pell-mell. 

"Let them come close up, boys," I said, "then 
give it to "em." I took the center. Curt the right 
and Jack Colby the left. When the Indians had 
come within twenty feet of the shack I gave the 
word and together our three Winchesters poured 
a stream of lead into them. When the smoke 
raiser there were nine "good" Indians in sight. 
Several that got away we knew to be wounded. 
After a while we saw an Indian approaching 
holding up a white feather. l'])on our calling out 
to him lu- signified that they wanted their dead. 
W'e motioned him to take them luit to leave all 
guns behind, which they did. 

Six weeks passed slowly away and still they 
watched and waited for us. Our only diversion 
was to dail} shove a cap out on a stick and hear 



22 



or MiXXEHAIIA. 

ilic zip oi a Inillcl as il ])l()\vc(l into our hravy log- 
cabin front. 

But one dav al:)out tlu- first of June we were 
brought to our feet l)y the never-to-l)e-forgotten 
sounds of a bugle call. A scouting expedition of 
the I'. S. arniv were soon standing' where Crazy 
HoK^e and his l)and had stood a few mimites be- 
fore. 

Thev were headed for Mandan and so glad 
were we to accompany them tliat we did not wait 
to gather in our traps, Init merely packed up our 
furs and went along. Arriving at ]\Iandan we 
pushed on to Bismark where we disposed of our 
winter's catch, clearing up $600 apiece. We now 
came to tlie Twin Cities. Here we purchased an- 
other outfit and shipped it to Moorhead. 

Once more we were ready for adventure in the 
Wild West. 



23 




The Headquarters Building- at I-^)rt Snellinj?. On 
this building are the bronze tablets in honor of Cap- 
tain Melville C. Wilkinson of the 3rd U. S Infantry 
who was killed at Sugar Point. Minn., Oct. 5, 1898, in 
action with hostile Indians and (.'aptain Joseph Hale, 
a hero of the Civil, Spanish and Indian wars. The 
AVilkinson tablet is erected by the members of the 
Grand Army of the Republic of St. Paul and Minne- 
ai)()lis and the Ifale tablet by the Sons of the Revolu- 
tion in the State of Minnesota. 

Directly across from the Headquarters building is 
the beautiful drill ground. 



CHAI'TKR \'r. 
WE WINTER. ON KNIFE RIVER. 

We now look llic train for Detroit wliere our 
stock awaited us and then left for Motirhead. 
Here we found our outfit awaiting- us and we 
were soon ready for the traik 

Once more we are off for the Wild West, 

To battle with hardship and pain. 
For the wealth that lies in the mountains, 

Or perhaps like others be slain, 
For no one knows better than hunters - 

Of dano;-ers that fall in his way, 
P^rom Indians lurking- in ambush. 

Watching- his victii-n to slay. 
But still we will laugh at all danger. 

We will learn like the sly fox to hide 
From the foe when he follows the war path^ 

That our scalp may not hang at his side. 
]hu when at last he is sleeping 

I pon him we cree|) sure and swift. 
A knife (juick we plunge in his bosoiu, 

'fhen set hiiu in the river advift. 



The Hermit 

As we rode out of Muorhcad we heard the 
crack of a revolver and looking back we saw two 
gamblers taking- each other for a target. Being 
extra good marksmen, they had only killed two 
bystanders and wounded one of themselves slight- 
ly. Such was Moorhead's early history. We 
now started for Knife river and its tributaries. 
Three davs of traveling brought us to a suitable 
place for a camp. Here we built a log shack and 
surrounded it with a stockade. Inside this we 
sunk a well and brought in a supply of ha}' for 
our beasts. Again we pro-cured buffalo meat and 
busied ourselves with our traps. 

The fall and winter passed away quietly. \\'e 
had three little engagements with grizzily bears. 

These animals are greatly feared by the In- 
dians and the Indian who kills one is ever after 
looked upon as a mighty warrior and is allowed 
to I wear the claws of the bear in a necklace. 

The trapping became better than ever towards , 
spring and in our greed for more furs we lost all 
and I lost two comrades tried and true. One 
afternoon we saw smoke signals telling o.t our 
whereabouts and calling ever}- Indian within a 
radius of fifty miles to the war dance. 
26 



OF Minnehaha. 

-\s many of my readers do not know how these 
smoke signals of the Indians are made I will ex- 
plain. The}- select the highest hill or mountain 
they can find and here upon the highest point 
they build their fire of green boughs so as to 
make a heavy black smoke. Now they let the 
smoke ascend until they sec answering smokes 
from other hill tops. Then they take a blanket 
which has been wet for the occasion and hold it 
over the fire making an open space for the colunm 
of smoke to lodge in. Then with a quick move- 
ment they remove the blanket and in a second's 
time replace it. They are adepts at it and can 
make the smoke take dififerent shapes. Rings of 
smoke rising one above the other means that an 
enemy is near. Spiral columns designate the 
number. Direct lines of ascending smoke call in 
the hunters from the game trail. Others dealt 
with camping groimds, etc. Burning arrows at 
night time were often used for signaling. 

When we knew we were discovered we decid- 
ed to tr\- and slip out away from them. Our on- 
ly avenue to freedom was by way of Great Falls, 
by crossing the Big Muddy and then swing back 
to the south or possibly be driven to the western 

27 



The Hekmit 

part of Montana wlu-rc wc nii^ht find a mining- 
camp. 

Packino- our horses wo prepared for a move at ' 
dark for the nortli. I^ntering- Knife river to hide 
the trail we rode as (|uiet as spectres all night 
long. At daybreak we halted to let onr horses 
crop the luxuriant grass with packs and saddles 
still on. 

Ag-ain we started, hoping- that we had escaped, 
but keeping- our eyes o]:)en for snioke signals. 
Late in the day we saw what we were fearing- 
for. Snioke signals to our left calling the red 
skins to be on the lookout. 

Soon after dark we rode into an ambush and 
Curtiss was killed. Jack and I made a run for it 
losing- our ]M-ecious furs and one of our horses. 
In the darkness we ])ushe(l (jn for the "^'ellow- 
stone, well knowing they would follow us at day- 
break. Arriving- at the Yellowstone we decided 
to cross and make a stand. A\'e ])ut our stock 
under cover and made read\- for the enemv. By 
.so doing we gave our horses rest and food for 
the onward journey if we came out alive. It was 
not long- before they appeared on the other side 
of the river and going farther up crossed over 
28 



OF MiXNKHAIIA. 

SO as to take us unawares. 'I'licn ihev charged 
us yelling' as onl\- Indians ean yell. We let tliem 
come to close ranj^e and then ^"a\-e them nnr l)est. 
There must ha\-e heen fortx- in the i)art\- though 
they were not all arnieil. \\\' drnjjped six of 
them in the ri\-er for the fishes and the rest with- 
drew to tlie other sluire. Thex' did not trv to 
rout us out again that da_\'. 

That night we again took the trail for the 
north until we were some three miles from the 
river. \\'e then turned to the west for two miles. 
and recrossed the river. We now turned to the 
southwest for we could not doul^le on our tracks 
again. At eleven o'clock we took a two hours' 
rest for our horses and then took to the saddle 
again. We alxuuloned all hut two horses, the 
others having gone lame, and struck out. We 
again recrossed the Yellowstone making north- 
west all the next dav until ahout ti\'e in tlie after- 
noon. 

"Do you know." said Jack as we dismounted. 
"I feel that I shall never get out of thi> alive. 
My time has come." "Xonsense. old hov." said 
I, "never say die." "I feel it in mv 1)one-^." lie 
rej)lied, "hut I'll die game." 



Rah-Rah-Rah-Rcc-Ree-Rcc, 

Who are — who arc — who arc we, 
We arc the Br-wers, don't you see. 
Going to Snelling — cliee-chcc-chec. 

A pretty picture showing one of the many loads of 
liappy tourists that take the trip to Fort SnelHng on 
one of the rigs belonging to the C. C. Patten Bus Line. 
Thousands of visitors to the Falls take this ride, the 
charge for the entire round trip of six miles being only 
twenty-five cents a passenger. 

The busses leave ^Minnehaha Falls every half hour. 
The drive through the beautiful and historic govern- 
ment reservation takes one by the new fort and parade 
ground, past the famous old round tower and block 
house and near the fortifications of the old fort just 
above the point of juncture of the iMississippi and Alin- 
nesota rivers. From here the drive passes out onto the 
great government steel bridge, one hundred and sixteen 
feet above the water of the Mississippi river, where one 
may get a \'ievv of river, forest and fort, unsurpassed 
in the United States for beauty and grandeur. From 
here one may also see Mendota, the famous old Indian 
village and oldest town in the state. 

When visiting Minnehaha Falls no one should miss 
this beautiful drive. 



The Hermit 

His prophetic words were too true. .\t six 
o'clock or thereal)outs the Indians came ii]) and 
as^ain attacked ns. We waited till they had come 
(|uite close and then our ritles spoke together, 
'idien a strange thing happened. Two horses 
came tearing from the ranks of the Indians, their 
dead riders falling as they came. I understood 
it in a Miioment's time. They were horses cap- 
tm^ed from white men and the;.' now ran for us. 
Trust a horse brought up by a white man to 
know the difference between a white and a red 
skin. 

It was l)ut a second's time to mount these 
fresher horses. Then we made a lireak for lil)er- 
tv. A perfect hell of shots and yells surrounded 
and came after us. Gradually our fresh horses 
drew awa\-. but too late to save Jack. I turned 
to see him pkdi forward in his saddle and with 
a "Goodbye liill," pitch to the earth. I stopjied 
long enough to see that he was dead and then 
taking his horse pushed on. 

It was well that I did so for before morning 

my horse had stej^ped in a hole and broken his 

leg and after ])UtTting a bullet in his brain for 

pity's sake I took the other horse and rode away. 

30 



OF Minnehaha. 

lUU I was iKit yd out of daiii^cr. I was l)oii\Q; 
followed in a mo?t k'isurcl) fasliiim for the In- 
dians thought 1 could umI ])()ssihly esca])e and my 
capture was only a matter of time. ]5esidcs, 
thev did not wish to come too close to the heavy 
hrace of revolvers and the Winchester I still car- 
ried. I managed to elude them long enough to 
give my horse a nuich needed rest, however, and 
then took to the saddle once more hoping this 
time to get awa\'. 

I'ut I made the mistake of my life in one re- 
spect, in another way j^erhaps I saved myself. 
Before I knew it 1 was in a tra]). They were 
surrounding me and I knew now it was a race 
for life. But my spued availed nothing for they 
were heading me toward a dee]) fissure with high 
hanks on either side. 

They now commenced to taunt me with "Took- 
ta neah Puckchee waucon," meaning. "Where 
are yott going, devil." 

But the gully now widened out and T wondered 
at their confidence for I was graduall\- drawing 
away from them. But I soon saw the reason for 
it. 'Hie .gully came tO' an almost ahrupt end in a 
gorge or creek al:)out twelve feet wide. Checking 
my horse in time I rode hack toward the red 

31 



Government Bridge from the St. Paul side to the 
Minneapolis side of the Mississippi, and view of the 
main part of old Fort Snelling-. From this bridge a 
view of Mendota, the oldest town in Minnesota, may 
be had. Mendota is an Indian village and a tribe of 
Indians still live there. Mendota at one time came 
near to being the capital of the state. 



The IIkkmit 

devils l)ack of me dctcniiined to risk all in one 
terril)le leap for life. To their crv of "where are 
you S'*M'i,U'' devil." 1 suddenly .crif:d, "Tahon," 
meaning, "over there." and wlieeling my animal 
made for the gorge. ?\1\- nolile horse. He rose 
like a deer and to my hysterical relief landed 
clear and iwv on the other side of the awful 
chasm. 

lUillcts now whistled after me for it was their 
last chance of gTtting me. for to get over the 
gorge they had prol)al)ly to go down or up the 
stream many miles. 

That night a heav\' r;iin set in and though very 
uncoiufortahle to me in the saddle was really a 
great hlessing for it hroke all signs of mv trail. 
In the morning 1 crossed the \'ellowstone again 
and had the good luck to kill a deer. Believing 
1 was in a strange country I made a fire and was 
isoon feasting on the fat of the land. 1 then 
covered my tire and lay close u]) to' it to get some 
warmth into m\- chilled body. 

Overcome with fatigue 1 fell asleep. I must 
have slept until ahoul four in the afternoon for 
1 was suddenly awakened 1)\ the strong smell of 
the Kinakinic. I did not open r.iy eves as yet. 
One learns to be careful. 



OF Minnehaha. 

I kiU'W tlial I was surrounded and in ;ui in- 
stant had made up ni\' mind to ])lay off for crazw 
Indians arc \cr\- superstitious, thinking- tliat the 
oreal I'^ather lias put a mark upon one insane. 
Slowly opening- my eyes I discovered some twen- 
ty Indians sitting' a1)out we waiting- to see how- 
surprised I would he. .Slowly arising- to a sittiui;- 
posture and takiny- no notice of the Indians I l)e- 
gan to rake the live emhers of the fire out and 
picking- them up. ])ut them into m\- mouth. i'>v 
chewing" them very ra|)idly and siiitting the 
sparks out I was ahle to give them quite a show. 
.All the time I laughed loud and appeared to en- 
joy myself liugel}'. A little incident that heljied 
in the plav I was ])utting u]) was added by un- 
horse. PTe walked into the circle and upon my 
offering him some roasted venison took it in his 
mouth with every evidence of enjoyment. At 
last their chief stood up and pointed to his fore- 
head. I had won out. All the other Indians 
nodded and I knew I was safe. 1diev l)elieved 
mc crazy. 

Hut I was not _\-et rid of them. The\- hoiled 
some of my venison and offered me a share. I 
ate with them all the time acting strangely. Hav- 
ing eaten I immediately jM-etended slec]). The 

S3 



']"iiE Hermit 

next morning they were still there. Init as soon 
as we had eaten they prepared to move. They 
asked me to go with them. l)Ut T jjointed to the 
sky and then to the ground signifying that the 
Great Spirit wished me to remain there. 

Thev left me strong in the conviction that I 
was crazv and I sometimes think I was and that 
1 have never gotten over it yet. 

I now once more restim.ed my saddle and for 
three days and nights saw not a sign of Indians. 
On the third night as I was traveling along about 
nine o'clock I heard a voice singing in a rich 
Irish l)rogue "Nora O'Xeall." Xever in my life 
have I heard sound one-ha.lf so sweet to my ears 
as the voice of that Irish bush-whacker. 

As I came nearer I saw a canvas topped wa- 
gon in the firelight and knew it was a freighting 
outtit going to Bismarck. I cried, "Hello 
friends." and was told to "'light" and "come in." 
1 found later it was one of "Broad Waters' " 
outfits. I Avent with this party to liismarck and 
from there left for Minnesota, hi Minnesota I 
sold my horse, having discovered that he was 
qjeedy and later 1 learned that he made some 
remarkable fast time running. 
34 



CHArXER \"II. 
UP THE BIG MUDDY 

In August, 1874, I once more started for the 
West. V\'itli the money received from the sale 
of m\- horse 1 l^ought my outfit and another 
horse. In malting these purchases 1 feU in with 
two men b}' the names of Charley Brown and 
Ole Oleson, the latter a true Scandinavian. Both 
were good brave fellows, good shots and good 
trappers. Brown was of English parentage as 
evidenced by his use of his "hs" and his favorite 
''bloody blooming." etc. Their horses were in 
pasture at Jamestown, while mine was at iNIoor- 
head, so we shipped our ^supplies to Bismarck. 

At Jamestown, where I went first v>itli th.e 
boys Ole got into troul^le. \\'hile taking a drink 
in a saloon a crowd of rowdies tried to make 
sport with him l:)ecause he was a Swede, ^^'ith 
one blow of his fist Ole had downed his first in- 
sulter and then the crowd flashed knives and 
revolvers on him. It was at this imicture that 
Brown, app.er.red on th.e scene to h.ear cries of 



OF Minnehaha. 

"Down with the Swede." "Blast my blooniin' 
l)l()(.(lv 'art if yon do," cries Brown and steps in 
along- side of Ole. Tt was thns that I fonnd them 
facing- the tonghs a few minntes later. With the 
hntt of my revolver I laid ont two of the rowdies 
and hred a conple of shots aronnd the ears of the 
others and snddenly we fonnd onrsclves alone 
with the barkeeper who was slowly emerging 
from behind the connter. "It's my treat fel- 
lows." said he, "name yonr poison." 

^^'e left town that afternoon and at the end of 
three days were in camp on the Big Mnddy near 
Bismarck. Arriving at Bismarck we found we 
did not have enough pack horses and as T had 
purchased one more at Moorhead it was th.eir 
turn to get another. After awhile they came 
back with two good looking ponies, but mean — 
while thev had filled uj) on enough rot-gut to 
float a canoe. Both thought that they were as 
good men as John L. Sullivan, and there was 
notliing to do l)ut let them have it otU. 

"Aye tank I vas better man as \ou Scharley." 
says Olc. 

"Blast mv bloody, blooming 'art if you are," 
savs. Brown. "Come on Sweden an' I'll knock 
3G 



The Hermit 

the bloody nose off'n ye." So I made them give 
me their arms and let them set to. It was a good 
honest man's fight and a draw. Both were bleed- 
ing at the nose while one of Ole's eyes wa^ 
closed. While I split my sides with laughter 
they sat grinning alt one another trying to re- 
cover their breath. At last I said, '"Well you are 
both Yankees now so shake hands to the new 
nationality/' which they did. 

The next morning we were in the saddle bright 
and early headed for the upper Yellowstone. As 
we got farther west we saw Indian signs at every 
hand to keep us on the alert. On Green river we 
had a brush with five Cheyenne braves and 
proved too nnich for them. 

We learned then that Sitting Bull had been 
in that country at war with the Crow and Man- 
dan tribes, so we changed our plans somewhat, 
and crossing the Yellowstone, made for the Lit- 
tle Muddy. 

Up near its head waters we found good pro- 
spects and proceeded to arrange our camp and 
make it strong and secure. We built under- 
ground stables and ishack and then got in ha}- for 
our stock and provisions for ourselves. \\'t then 
commenced our trapping. 
37 



OF Minnehaha. 

We took in beaver, otter, mink, fisher and mar- 
tin seemingly without end. Along in December 
the snow became so deep that we had to suspend 
operations until the following March. During 
the interval we anmsed ourselves playing cards, 
throwing knives, wrestling and sparring. Oc- 
casionally we killed a black-tail deer for food. 

Ole had a fight with a g^rizzly to cap the climax 
and got pretty badly chewed up. 

Along towards the first of February while out 
hunting for deer I came to an Indian lying be- 
side a big grizzly's carcass with a leg and an arm 
broken. It had been a great fight. The bear 
had broken the guu and with it the Indian's arm. 
^^'itll his good arm and a knife he had killed the 
bear and in its death struggle it had struck his 
leg, breaking it like a pipe stem. 

The poor devil was nearly dead from cold and 
loss of blood. I swung him over my shoulder 
and carried him to the shack. Placing him on a 
bed of furs we set the broken limbs and soon had 
him as comfortable as could be expected. He 
drank our coffee and became our guest for two 
months and he never answered us with more than 
a grunt. He was our star boarder. When he got 

38 



The Hermit 

so he could walk he siuldenly came up missing 
without a word of thanks or sign of gratitude. 
I thought I had seen the last of him hut I had 
not. 

Meanwhile in our talks Charley had told of his 
home in old England, of the death of his wife at 
Sheffield and of the little daughter left with her 
grandparents. On one occasion he had said, 
"Boys I feel as though I shall never see the set- 
tlements again and if anything should happen to 
mc write my little girl and if you get out with 
the winter's catch send her mv share."' 

Ole seemed to have the same feeling. He gave 
me the address of his old father and mother in 
Stockholm requesting whichever of us came out 
alive to forward his share to them. 1 laughed at 
their fears hut could not cheer them up. 

I alone was to come hack from that trip. The 
end of the iseason drew to a close. We cached 
our tra])s in case we should need them again, 
packed oin- horses and turned our faces toward 
the east and civilization. 

Charley and Ole were down hearted and one 
not knowing them would tliink tliey were show- 
ing the white feather. lUu it was the result of 
39 



OF Minnehaha. 



lionest convicliiin tVr nn Ijrawr iiu-n iravi'lcd llie 
Wc-t. 

W'c travckd nights diwii the l.ittk' Missouri, 
koepin;:; out of sig'lit in daytinu'. 

One ni,giit we can-.ped in a sink h')k> where we 
were surprised 1>\- a hand of Siiaix Inchans. We 
had l)ecoine s:)nie\\hat careless, haxdng- -een U) 
sig-ns of Inchans. so this {'uv.v we were at their 
mercy. 

p-or a whik' we storid thcmolT and tlien resolved 
to make a hreak throu,gh their ranks for hlierty. 
I'oor ( )k^ never o-Qt through and Charhe v.-as 
hatUv wnun(k>d. Another buhet sent after him 
tuml)kd him from his beast, (kad. 

As for myself I was struck v.dth a Hying hatch- 
et which luckily for me struck ;i twig turning it- 
self over so that the heavy head came full on my 
tem])le instead of the sharp edge. I was knocked 
from m\- horse and fell as one dead. AMien 1 
came to I was bound from head to foot and tliey 
were tying" me to a saddle. 

Shortly after we started for their camp about 
ten miles distant. Arriving at the village I v/as 
surprised to see our "'star boarder" of the ])ast 
winter, the Indian I had l)efriended. Me greeted 

40 



The Hermit 

nie with "Honkc^la," nieaniri<;-, "How are vou, 
friend?" He cut my thoiii^s and set me free and 
led me to liis teepee. 

After I liad gone in he and mv captors held a 
very animated conversation outside. I cotild 
make out enouoh to know that I was safe and 
that he was the great chief "Black Eagle." 

^Ty property was carefully put away untouched 
and I spent the night comfortably in the village. 
The next morning Black Eagle himself escorted 
me to the scene of the last night's fight. There 
I found the hones of both Charlie and Ole picked 
clean by the wolves. These I buried decently and 
marked the grave with a few stones. I could not 
but rellect on the fate of these two poor fellows, 
who had been born and raised in dilTerent parts 
of the world, who had crossed the waters to meet 
and die in a strange land far from their loved 
ones. . But according to the Good Book our trail 
shall cross in the lumtiug ground above. 

Black luigle and his band accompanied me for 
a number of days. They had many tights with 
the Crovv's and Afandans and took many scalps. 
At the end of three weeks we were nearing civili- 
zation. ( )ne morning I I'ound m\- horses all sad- 

41 



OF Minnehaha. 

(lk(l ami ])ackLcl standing- ready tor me. Black 
luigie tokl me to nidunt and then pointed to the 
sontli. saying: '"White man, gO' find wagon road, 
go Mandan. ride like hell. Yott save r)lack 
I^agle. r>laek l^agle save you. Xext time r.ieet 
kill. \\'e even now. Go." 

I started my horses on a walk, disdaining- to 
look hack. I rode in the direction indicated un- 
til I came to the wagon road ahotit thirty miles 
from Mandan. I reached there in the evening 
and went into camp. The next day I sold my 
furs to a traveling fur agent receiving twenty- 
four hundred dollars for the lot. As agreed I 
sent eight hundred dollars apiece to Charlie's lit- 
tle girl and Ole's parents and kept eight hundred 
m}-self. 

I now took my stock to Jamestown where I 
found pasture for it and went on tO' St. Paul. 
After a trip to my hoyhood's home where I saw 
my mother for the last time I started on another 
trip for ^^lontana. 



42 




THE NEW PAVILIION AT MINNEHAHA. 



Just coiiipletcd at a cost of $7,500. Located directly 
in front of tlie falls on the point of land overlooking 
the beautiful Minnehaha glen. The pavilion is occupied 
hy Jacob Barnett who carries a full line of refreshments 
at popular prices. 

Everything is clean and neat and a well trained corps 
of assistants wait upon the customers. 

The pavilion is proving ver>' popular under the able 
management of Mr. Barnett and is already the center of 
attraction for all hungry and thirsty pleasure seekers. 



CHAPTI-.R nil. 
A TRIP TO THE BIG HORN COUNTRY 

I now went to I'^argo and wliilc there l)ec;une 
ac(|uainted witli a middle ag-ed, quiet sort of man 
who modestly represented himself as a frontier 
tra])])er. We 'Soon struck up a partnershi]) and I 
]iroposed a trij) up the Little Missouri where m\- 
traps were cached. lUit he thouo-ht the danger 
from the Indians was too g-reat and ])roposcMl the 
Big- Horn country. So it was agreed that we 
were to go to the Big- Horn country for the win- 
ter. My new ])artner, Thomas ( ireason 1)\- name, 
said he could be read}' in three da\-.-" time. lUn- 
ing our outfit we shi])])ed it on to l^ismarck and 
once more I left for Jamestown to get m\- stock. 

T found one of my most Vcduahle horses dead, 
having" been struck h\' lightning. It was a big' 
loss to me, for aside frcnii his actual cash value. I 
feared nothing- in the saddle with him. I still 
had eig-ht to spare and I threw the saddle on one 
after another trying to decide which I should use 
for a saddle horse. I tinally decided on two and 



The Hermit 

set out. But when I finall}' met Tom I was in 
need of a pillow to sit on for my new mounts 
were western horses from the range and my sad- 
dle had met me about half way at ever\' jump for 
the last twenty-four hours. 

The journey to- Bismarck was very painful to 
me and when we g"ot there 1 liad to take a couple 
of days off to rest up and get some of the sore- 
ness out of me. 

On the third day we started on what was to be 
one of the most eventful trapping expeditions I 
ever made. Again I was ordained to come back 
alone, ^^'e moved through the Bad Lands slow- 
ly. This land, 55 miles wide and 125 miles 
long looks more as one would expect the infernal 
regions to look than anytliing else I can think of. 
Chasms run into canyons, hills into mountains 
and the whole thing is serrated and gorged with 
jagged rocks. Soft coal is found in some places, 
but of a very soft quality. The climate seems to 
have a ])etrifying influence upon things, as we 
fovmd at different times snakes and other small- 
er animals perfectly petrified. 

By the way, this country can produce more 



44 



OF Minnehaha. 

rattlesnakes to the square iiicli than anv other 
known land. 

After crossing- this belt of country we pui^hcd 
on. traveling' nights and hiding daytimes. 
Striking the Little Big Horn we were not long in 
locating our winter residence. \\'c found a cave 
under an overhanging bank, that with a little 
digging exactly fitted our needs, ^^'e now walled 
up the front with a solid stone wall and fixed a 
large stone so that we could use it for a door Ijy 
rolling it back and forth and fastened it with a 
key stone. Wc cut a quantity of hay from the 
big supply below us in the valley and brought 
that into our camp. Next we brought in wood 
and set about curing meat for the winter's use. 
In a few w'eeks we were well fixed for a siege. 
A spring bubbled up at one end of the cave and 
ran out under our stone wall to the river below. 
We could stand a siege of six months if we had 
to. 

Our traps ran up and down theLittle Big Horn 
for a distance of ten miles. Later in the year we 
set them on some of the smaller stream^ running 
into that river. Fur was very plentiful and we 



4. J 



No one visitinji' llic F"alls should fail to visit the Sold- 
iers' Home. 

A foot bridge over the beautiful IMinnehaha glen 
leads from the park to the Home. The site of the Min- 
nesota Soldiers' Plome comprises fifty-one acres of 
wooded land beginning at the juncture of the Minneha- 
ha creek and running one mile north. It lies one-hun- 
dred feet above the level of ihe water's edge. 

For beauty and convenience of situation, picturesque- 
ness of view and perfect adaptability to the purpose it 
cannot be excelled: and it has withal a historic and ro- 
mantic interest which will ever prove of increasing in- 
terest to visitors. 

Within the city limits of Minneapolis, divided only by 
the river from St. Paul, only three miles from Fort 
Snclling, around which so many military memories 
cluster, amd in summer literally cooled by the spray oi 
the laughing cascade immortalized in Longfellow's clas- 
sic, the ideal of a soldier's heaven would seem to have 
been found. 

The buildings are about fifteen in numl)er built of red 
brick. They comprise five cottages, a new dining hall, 
hosi)ital. administration building, pavilion, two steam 
plants and other outbu'ildings such as barns, etc. One 
feature of the Home is its beautiful lawns dotted with 
flowers. The inmates of the Home care for these, cut- 
ting the grass and trimming the flowers. 

The pavilion is used for entertainments which are giv- 
en the old soldiers under the auspices of the Woman's 
Relief Corps. 

The dining hall is under the charge of soldiers de- 
tailed for the work. Each man works one week, wait- 
ing on table, washing dishes, etc. The hospital employs 
five lady and six male nurses, all outsiders. The laun- 
dry has five outside people and three members of the 
Home assist these in the work. 

The ofticers in charge are Commandant James Comp- 
ton. Adjutant McKusic, Quartermaster Straub, Surgeon 
Bissel and Chaplain Smith. Visitors to the grounds 
are made to feel at home at oncc' as every old soldi?r 
on the place has constituted himself a committee of one 
to show strangers the points o'f interest and no one ever 
leaves the grounds without a thrill of gratitude for the 
courteous and kintl treatment shown by the old bovs of 
'6i. 



The Hermit 

worked hard taking cmt the Httle animals and 
curing their skins. 

For the benefit of the small boy who would go 
trapping — let me tell some of the hardships we 
underwent. We rose long before daylight and 
while one got the breakfast the other did die 
chores around the stock. Then each man took 
his gun, revolvers, knife and hatchet, seventy-five 
rounds of ammunition and struck out across the 
country to the farthest traps, sometimes being 
five or six miles on the way when the sun rose. 
He began his day's: work of tal-cing the catch 
from the trap, skinning it and resetting the trap. 
Thus he worked along toward camp. Sometimes 
he was compelled to go into water to his hips to 
free his traps. 

\\'e usually arrived in camp long after dark 
and our work was even then Idv no means fin- 
ished. .Vfter getting supper and caring for the 
stock we must stretch the skins, remove all the 
fat from them and hang them up to dry. those 
that were dry we must pack in bales for shipping. 

Day after day we followed this routine, sleep- 
ing at night in wet clotlies perhaps, and eating 
the coursest thdugli most nourishing food. So 
40 



OF Minnehaha. 

von sec a trajjper cannot l)e a lazy man. Do not 
believe all the romantic things yon hear boys 
abont the life of tiie trapper. He did not lie 
around in his moinitain retreat before a blazing- 
tire of logs and tell stories. On the contrary he 
worked long and hard for every cent he made. 
Besides this his life was in danger at all times 
from animals or {jrowling red skin. 

(Jften our packs coming in at night would 
weigh nearer to one hundred pounds than fifty. 
W'e always saved all the tails of the beaver as 
every trapper thinks them a great delicacy being 
more tender and appetizing than frogs' legs even. 

As winter came on our traps were taken from 
the frozen streams and set on land and when the 
heavy snows came they had to be taken into camp 
altogether. It was then that we got a much 
needed rest. We had only to eat and sleep now 
and occasionally sally forth for fresh meat. This 
consisted princii)all}- of elk or 1)lack tailed deer. 

In the spring we commenced our trapping 
again and worked day and night to fill our packs. 
We had seen no signs of red skins and often felt 
like leaving our guns in camp. The last clay in 
.\])ril we starled as usual fo-- our traps with the 
47 



The Hermit 

intcntidn of pullino" them in as the season was 
about OA'er. Little did we (h'eam that we should 
never ai^ain see each other on this earth. Arriv- 
ing- at my traps I made a discovery that sent me 
scurrying to cover. Indians had discovered my 
traps and I knew that they were waiting to am- 
bush me. I fell l)ack about two miles and was 
hurrying noiselessly through the woods with ev- 
ery sense on the alert when suddenl}- my prog- 
ress was arrested by a soft crooning voice of a 
woman. I soon discovered the singer. It was an 
Indian girl about twelve years old. I stood stock 
still admiring the forest beautx" of the little maid- 
en, when suddenly my ear took in another sound. 
I lifted my eyes to the nearest large tree above 
the girl and was horrified to see outstretched upon 
a limb one of the largest moinitain lions I have 
ever seen. Jt was crouched antl read\' to spring 
upon the unconscious girl. 

I raised my gun instinctively, but reflected in.- 
stantly that to shoot would bring u])(in me the 
whole tribe, Init I could not see th.e girl perish in 
such a way and so I fired. 

That shot probably saved my life from the 
Indians afterward. 1 caught the lio , or its fatal 
48 



OF Minnehaha. 

sj)rini;". but U^o late to save the Indian t;-iii entirely 
from harm. The heavy body hurling forward 
knocked her down and broke her leg besides la- 
cerating her llesli badly. 

The child had on a dress of cheap and gaudy 
cloth probably obtained from a trader. This T 
tore in strips and bound up the little one's 
wounds. Then when she had sufficiently revived 
I asked her the way to her village. Evidently she 
understood what I meant for she pointed out the 
direction and picking her up I carried her along. 
In a few minutes we arrived at the village. No 
one offered to stop me and I carried her past 
crowds of wondering braves and astonished 
squaws. She finally pointed out a teepee before 
which stood an Indian of very stately appearance. 
I looked up at him and he pointed into the tent. 
In I went and deposited my btirden on 'some fur 
robes. 

He entered after me and to my surprise said in 
very good English, "Wil Ithe white man tell me 
how he conies to be carrying the child of Sitting 
Bull in this manner?" I explained, telling liim 
all. He again said, "White nuui is brave. Not 
many white men would do what he had done." 

49 



The IIekmit 

He tlien asked me where m_\- comrades were 
and I told him of Tom. He shook his head and 
I knew what he was thinking- about. The Indians 
had found my friend. 

Sitting Bull, for it was the great Indian chief- 
tain himself, would not let me go until the next 
morning. So I set the broken limb of the little 
girl and put on cloths wet in cold water to keep 
down the inflammation. At intervals during the 
day I changed these. ]\Ieanwhile runners had 
been sent out to call in all wandering bands of 
Indians. 

In the morning I was asked to leave. Sitting 
Bull gave me a fine belt and told me to leave the 
country as soon as I could get out for he could 
not answer for my safety from other bands of 
Indians who were even now making for that 
point. I bade the child goodbye, little thinking 
that she would remember and return life for life 
at some future day. 

Neither did I think that in a few short weeks 
the country was to ring with the death of the 
brave Custer together with all his brave men at 
the hands of this same band of savages. 



OF Minnehaha. 

i went directly to the cave and not finding Tom 
there strnck ont upon his trail I found him as 
I had expected, dead at the first trap. He had been 
shot in the back and httle was left beside his 
bones. Sadly I hollowed out a shallow grave and 
laid him to rest. Back to camp I went again, 
alone now and far from civilization, not knowing 
what sort of fate I might meet. 

Night found me in the saddle with my pack 
horses loaded and provisioned. All night I 
pushed on at a stiff trot. In the morning I 
stopped in a diick forest. Back a little way I 
found an open glade where I turned my horses to 
graze after watering them. As for myself I 
dared not sleep or build a fire. 

As night came on I searched out a sheltered 
place, built a fire and broiled some bufifalo meat 
and made a cup of coffee. I then stamped out 
the fire and ate my supper. 

Once more I took the north star for my guide 
and pushed rapidly on. Tn this way I traveled 
for five days and nights. I knew that I was some- 
where' near civilization, but how near I did not 
know. I was going insane for lack of sleep and 
on the sixth night T lost all sense of reason. When 



')'he Ukrmit 

I came to I was in a friendly Indian's camp. Only 
himself and squaw lived there on the outskirts of 
civilization. I had hwii ravins^' for two weeks 
with brain fever. He had foiuid my horses lying 
down and exhausted. I stayed witli him two 
weeks longer, slowly recovering". This Indian 
was one of God's noblemen and his name was 
well known as a friend of the white man. He was 
afterwards g-iven the land where his caljin stood 
by the government. 

When I became well enough to go I said, 
"Well, Hauka, I nmst go to Bismarck. Come 
and go with me and when I sell my furs T will 
give you and your s(|uaw a ])resent. He an- 
swered, ''Me go." 

At the end of my journey I sold my furs get- 
ting three thousand dollars in easli. I gave Hauka 
two hundred dollars and after making arrange- 
ments for ])asturing my stock I took the train for 
Fargo, where I hunted up Tom's widow. I di- 
vided equally with her after telling her the sad 
news of her brave husband's death. 

I next took the train for tlie Twin Cities and 
was thunderstruck to read in a few days of the 
Custer massacre. 

52 



CHAPTER IX. 
IN THE POWDER- HOR.N COUNTRY 

After speiulint;" tlie summer visiting' in the state 
I once more got the fever to go trapping again. 
I once more found myself in Bismarck looking for 
a partner. But I found that the trappers looked 
on me with superstition. Every one of my form- 
er comrades had found a grave in the west, and 
I alone had returned. 

Trappers) are probably more superstitious than 
others. I am to a certain degree myself. I can 
refer my readers to a certain chair that sits at 
the corner of one of the dining tables in the Min- 
nesota Soldiers' Home. 

Inside of two years while I was an inmate of 
that home nine dilTerent men were given that seat 
at table. Three died of heart failure, three died 
in bed and three were sent to the insane asylum. 
But this shows that there is at least some foun- 
dation for superstition. 

After remaining in Bismarck about a week I 
had about given up all hopes, of finding a ])artncr 



'J" HE Hermit 

when I chanced to nin onto a half-breed Cree 
Indian fighting for his hfe with a gang- of toughs 
and tin horn gamblers. Stepping to his side. I 
laid out three of the party with the butts of my 
revolvers. The rest fell back trj the outskirts of 
the town to plan a revenge of some sort. I was 
a bad looking man in those days being above or- 
dinary stature and hardened by my outdoor life 
into a splendid specimen of physical manhood, 
and thus I established a wholesome fear in such 
cowards' minds. 

The plan which these rascals thought up cost 
them dear a few hours later. While the half breed 
and I w-ere getting our supper over in mv camp a 
perfect fusilade of bullets whistled over our heads, 
one coming close enough to cut the rim of my 
hat, another g^oing through the half breed's shirt. 
In the next minute we had kicked out the fire and 
were behind some trees giving as good as was 
sent. Suddcnlv a band of trajjpers and hunters 
camped near us bore down on the fellows and 
took three of the hoodlums prisoners. They were 
found to l)e bad fellows and a lynching party Vv'as 
in order. 




:iiSKn 



The Hermit 

Well, the half hrecd and I formed a partnership 
and left town that ni_o-ht. He told me his name 
was Louis Reill and he was a fine specimen of 
manhood. Later he went to Canada, headed a 
rebellion, became the Sitting Bull of the great 
northwest, was captured and died on the scaffold. 

We went up the Powder Horn trail to the Pow- 
der Horn river. We kept clear of Indians for 
thev were very warlike. In the spring of '']'] 
Crazy Horse came tearing through that part of 
the country and we had to get out until General 
Miles gave him a severe battle and beat him. 

During this time Louis had a brush with In- 
dians and killed six in an ambush fight. We 
got back to civilization without a dollar. In the 
next few years Louis and I knocked around all 
over the great Northwest, sometimes striking it 
rich and sometimes poor. We trapped, hunted 
and fished and bore all kinds of hardships un- 
complainingly. I was among the stirring scenes 
that laid the foundation for the new West. I 
'saw civilization slowlv rooting out savagry and 
making wa}- for a great and free people. I 
tram])e(l across the richest portion of this great 



LofC. 



55 



The Hekmit 

United States many times and fully realized iis 
great wealth long- before it was developed. 

I think now of the great cities that have risen 
up where once only the Indian and buffalo 
roamed and where I trapped among them both, 
and I am content. 

;My health broke down under the privations I 
endured in the great \\'est and I came to the ]\Iin- 
nesota Soldiers' Home in 1890. 15ut the life tliere 
did not suit my tastes as I had been alone or near- 
ly alone so much that I did not care for company. 
So I built the sod house known to thousands of 
visitors of the wonderful Ahnncliaha b\ills and 
since 1 89 1 I have lived there in solitude on the 
pension allowed me by Uncle Sam. I have come 
to be identified with the place and no visitor 
thinks a trip to the falls complete without seeing 
the vine covered cottage of "The Hermit of Min- 
nehaha Falls." 




THE MONARCH OF THE IVilNNEHAHA GLEN. 



